Lighting fixture



' Dec. 28, 1943. l... SCHE'PMOES LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 29, 1941 I 2 Sheets-Sheet L l M w INVENTOR [mm .s E Y Jews/ mam.

BY $1M,

Patented Dela 28, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTING FIXTURE Lindsley Schepmoes, New Haven, Conn, assignor to The Safety Car Heating and Lighting Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application May 29. 1941, Serial No. 895,726

i 6 Claims. This invention relates to lighting fixtures, and

more particularly to a lighting fixture adapted to be attached to the side of a wall.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a lighting fixture which, though constructed from light and inexpensive materials, is nevertheless sufficiently sturdy to withstand extended use without excessive maintenance or repair.

Another object is to provide a wall fixture which is pleasing in appearance and at the same time has sufilcient illumination capacity to attain not only its decorative purposes, but also. to provide suflicient light in its enclosure. Another object is to provide a lighting fixture of the above character which is well adapted for use with lamps of the tubular type, for example, fluorescent lamps. Another object is to provide a lighting fixture of the above character which may bequickly installed, and which is'adapted to ready replacement of defective or burned out lamps or bulbs. Other objects 'will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements. and arrangements of parts as'wlll be exemplified in the structure to be'hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. 7

In the drawings, wherein I have shown one embodiment of my invention,

Figure l is a fragmentary isometric View of my lightingflxture;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation "takenalong the line 2-2 of Figure l; and

Figure v31s a fragmentary horizontal section taken along-the line 3-4 of Figure 2.

- Similar reference characters refer to similar diilusion effect in areas or at such angles where 1 greater intensity of illumination is neither need- .ed nor desired. Still further, wall or ceiling fixtures adapted to be used with tube-like bulbs of the fluorescent type, for example, are seldom of such a nature that the bulbs can readily be installed or removed from the fixture without ubstantial disassembly thereoi. It is accordingly another object of this invention to'provide a lighting fixture of the character under consideration which obviates the above-noted difilculties.

With reference now to Figure 1, my lighting I fixture is generally indicated at It and is shown as installed on a wall or partition II. It should beunderstood, however, that fixture It may as '-readily be'installed on a ceiling. Fixture I0 is preferably elongated and may include a plurality oi sections, as will be noted hereinbelow, each of which is provided with its own light bulb. By reason oi its elongated nature, fixture lt'might be characterized as streamlined, and to accentuate this streamlined effect it is preferably divided longitudinally into illuminated and unilluminated strips, 1. e., the variegated illumination would be on the vertical face of a fixture when the fixture is applied to a wall, but would be on-the bottom or horizontal face when applied to a ceiling.

For illustrativepurposes, fixture Iii will be described hereinafter as applied to a wall or horizontal partition. Thus, as shown in Figure 2,

' fixture in includes aback plate l2 fastened as parts'throughout the various views of the drawings.

In order that certain aspects of this invention may be more readily understandable, it

might first be pointed out thatwall or ceiling fixtures of the elongated type are more often than not characterized by cumbersomeness, which-militates against their ready installation, detachment from their installed position, or disassembly for purposes of repair. Further, they are often of such construction that to attain efllciency in illumination their decorative characteristics are sacrificed, or vice versa. Wall or ceiling fixtures of this character quite often should serve a double purpose; first, they should provide direct illumination of substantial intensity. such as is required for reading purposes, and secondly they 'should provide a decorative by screws 25 to the side of wall ii. Back plate l2 may, if desired, be coextensive longitudinally with fixture ll, or it more convenient, may be divided up in sections. The upper and lower edges of back plate l2 are bent over to provide upper and lower channels it and I5, respectively, and these channels detachably retain and support a globe or shade, generally indicated at It.

Shade I6 is preferably formed of a suitable plastic material having light diflusing properties and i which, while suiilciently sturdy to withstand the and an outenside wall i8.

shocks or vibrations of normal usage, yet is sufficlently resilient for ready installation on or detachment from back plate l2. Shade l8 accordingly includes upper and lower walls I! and I8,

walls I1 and i8 are respectively provided with outwardly turnedi'lips'or flanges 20 and it, which I respectively fit inchannels l4 and i5 and are retained thereimt'o'hold shade IS in its properv operative position when the shade is installed. As noted above, the plastic material from which shade i8 is formed is sufficiently resilient so that Upper and lower top ii and bottom l8 of shade l6 may be pressed toward one another and thereafter released to -permit upper flange 20 and lower flange 2| to snap into their respective channels l4 and I5, thus to hold shade i6 in proper position.

As noted hereinabove, fixture I is preferably divided into a number of sections, and as shown' in Figure 3, these sections as, for example, sec-- tions A and B, are divided by a supporting partition generally indicated at 22. Partition 22: has oppositely extending flanges 23 and 24 which are secured against back plate l2 and accordingly to wall H by screws 25 which extend through the flanges and back plate into the wall. Partition 22 also includes a web 26 on the outer end of which are integrally formed oppositely exother and accordingly provide cooperating supports to which is attached a bracket generally indioated at 3|, see Figure 2. Bracket 8| includes a horizontal longitudinally extending base portion 32 which, at its opposite ends, is secured to includes a relatively wide flange 34 which exas a unit with respect to fixture III. This, of course, greatly facilitates installation of the unit as a whole, and greatly facilitates maintenance and repair of the unit. The sockets which are carried by bulb supports 31 are, of course, preferably ,of-such a nature that bulb 4| may be installed or removed without detaching bracket 3| from'its installed position. 1

As hereinbefore noted, it is desirable that a lighting fixture of the character under consideration be not only an efllcient illurninator, but also be decorative. To this end, shade side wall I!) has applied to its upper and lower edges, and to its face a plurality of metal strips which may be of any suitable material, such as chromiumplated steel, aluminum, stainless steel, or other opaque material that will take a polish. Thus, asis shown in Figure 2, an angular polished strip 44v is partiallywrapped about a. plurality of supporting angles 45 formed of any suitable material, each angle having formed preferably integrally therewith "'a stud 46 which extends through the corner joining top wall I! and side wall IQ of shade IS.- The inner end of stud 4.6 is threaded so as to carry a nut 41 which when taken up against a washer 41a draws angle 45 against the upper cornerof the shade and clamps the opposite ends of stainless strip 44 between bosses 29 and 30 as by screws 33. Bracket 3| also tends downwardly and rearwardly of base por-' tion 32 to support the bulbsockets, as will be de-" scribed below. A front portion 35 ofbracket 3| extends preferably vertically upwardly from base:

portion 32 and is integrally joined with a horizontal rearwardlyextending top portion 36 which tive function of shade wall l9 (Figure 1) I apply thereto one or more opaque strips of polished material such as strip 48.. Strips 48 (Figures 2 and 3) are secured to shade IS in a manner .similar to that, of corner strip 44, and accordingly are wrapped partially around a plurality of supporting plates 49 (Figure 3) 'each of which has advertent detachment. Preferably the outwardly facing surfaces of flange 34, front 85 andbase';v

32 of bracket 3| are coated. with a white enamel or the like to provide a reflecting surface within shade l8. i At each end of bracket flange 38 is secured a bulb support, such as the support generally inditohold nut 5| against inadvertent release.

preferably integrally formed therewith an inwardly extendingthreaded stud'SO. A nut 5| threaded on stud I0 draws supporting plate 49 toward the outer surface of shade side wall l9, and accordingly clamps decorative strip .48 in place, a lock washer 52 preferably being provided shown in Figure 1, corner strips 44 and side cated at 31 (Figure 2), this support including a base 38 resting against the rear of and secured. to flange 34 as by a nut and. bolt 39. Support 3'! strips 49 preferably are coextensive longitudialso includes an outwardly and downwardly exi so that the light emanating from the bulb is reflected by such portions of bracket 3|. In the upper, inner portion of bracket 3| so as to be concealed thereby-is disposed a starter and socket unit generally indicated at 42 together with the opaque polished surfaces which, by reason of their lying on opposite sides of translucent areas provide not only the desired subdued diffusion,

' -ure 3) I provide a clamp 53 or the like (see also but also apleasing decorative efiect. In order to cover up the relatively unsightly seam between adjacent sections, such as sections A and B (Fig- Figure 2) at the seam between adjacen't'shades,

necessary wiring, auxiliary and ballast, all of which may be of a conventional nature such as, is usually provided for fluorescent lamps. Starter 42 may be secured to an angle iron 43-, the lower end of which is secured as by spot welding to the inner side of fixture flange 44. From the above, it will appear that lamp 4|, its sockets and supports 31, together with its starter 42, are all secured to bracket 3| which, in turn, is secured to opposed bosses 29 and of adjacent partitions 22 (see Figure 3). Thus, bulb 4| and its connected parts are installable or removable the clamp being the several objects set forth hereinabove in a thoroughly practical and efficient manner.

. As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and 'as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set held in positionin any suitable forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, orshown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A lighting {fixture adapted to be secured to a wall or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting plate adapted to be secured to said wall,ra pair of partitions secured to said plate and extending therefrom, an elongated bracket disposed between said partitions and having its opposite .ends secured thereto, said bracket including an upper portion lying in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said plate, an

elongated light bulb secured to said bracket, and an elongated shade substantially U-shaped in cross section detachably secured to said plate, the upper wall of said shade resting on and supported by said upper portion of said bracket.

2. A lighting fixture adapted to be secured to a wall or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting plate adapted to be secured to said wall, a pair of partitions secured to said plate and extending therefrom, an elongated bracket disposed between said partitions and having its opposite ends secured thereto, said bracket including an upper portion lying in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said plate, an elongated light bulb secured to said bracket, an elongated shade substantially U-shaped in cross section detachably secured to said plate, the uplongitudinally thereof, said strips being secured on the outside of said shade, and an elongated diffusing member securedto said shade on the inner side thereof in back of said opaque strips. 4. A lighting fixture assembly comprising a plurality of individual units each of which includes a supporting plate, a vertical partition and an elongated assembly comprising a bracket to which is secured an elongated fluorescent light bulb together with a starter. auxiliary, ballast and wiring therefor, each of said units also including an elongated U-shaped translucent shade formed of a resilient plastic material, a plurality of elongated opaque strips secured to said shade, and means extending from said partitions for co-extensively aligning said individual units.

5. A lighting fixture adapted to be secured to 'a vertical wall or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting plate adapted to be socured to said wall, a light bulb supporting member secured to said plate and extending outwardly of said wall, an elongated light bulb secured to said member, and an elongated shade formed of: a resilient material detachably secured to said plate, said member and the top of said shade having cooperating planar portions of substantial area which are in engagement when said per wall of said shade resting on and supported v by said upper portion of said bracket, and a plurality of elongated opaque strips secured to said shade in spaced parallel relationship and extending longitudinally thereof.

3. A lighting fixture adapted to be secured to a wall or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting plate adapted to be secured to said wall, a pair of partitions secured to said plate and extending therefrom, an elongated bracket disposed between said partitions and having its opposite ends secured thereto, said bracket including an upper portion lying in-a plane substantially normal to the plane of said plate, an elongated light bulb secured to said bracket, an

elongated shade substantially U-shaped in crosssection detachably secured to said plate, the upper wall of said shade resting on and supported by said upper portionof said bracket, a plurality of elongated opaque strips secured to said shade in spaced parallel relationship and extending shade is secured to said plate, whereby said member supports said shade.

6. A lighting fixture adapted to be secured to a vertical wall or the like comprising, in combination, a supporting plate adapted to be secured to said wall, means forming inwardly facing elongated channels along the upper and lower edges of said plate, an elongated bracket secured to said plate and extending outwardly therefrom and having a planar supporting surface of substantial area extending outwardly adjacent the upper of said channels, an elongated shade formed of a plastic material and having spaced free edges, means forming an outwardly extending flange on each of said edges whereby said edges may be sprung toward one another to interfit said flanges within said channels, to detachably mount said shade on said plate, said shade including an upper portion of substantial area adapted to rest on and be supported by said supporting surface of said bracket,

and an elongated light bulb secured to said bracket.

LINDSLEY SCHEPMOES. 

